Bulbous Cress. Cardamine bulbosa

Description

Bulbous Cress. Cardamine bulbosa

Family

Mustard.

Colour

White or pinkish.

Odour

Scentless.

Range

Mostly north.

Time of Bloom

April, May.

Flowers: rather large; growing in terminal clusters. Calyx: of four spreading sepals that fall early. Corolla: of four cruciferous petals. Stamens: six, of which two are shorter than the others. Pistil: one. Pod: flat; lanceolate. Leaves: roundish; cordate; becoming ovate, or lanceolate as they ascend the stem; toothed. Stem: erect; slender. Rootstock: tuberous.

This is perhaps the prettiest of our cresses. It has an agreeable bitter taste which appeals to us as being particularly refreshing when we find it beside the trickling, sparkling stream that it loves so well.